Aggett funeral turns into huge protest

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 6

Aggett funeral turns into huge protest

NZPA-Reuter Johannesburg Mourners at the week-end turned the funeral of a white trade unionist. Neil Aggett. into a demonstration against’? South Africa’s stringent anti-j terrorism laws under which the security police, in whose, custody he died, had detained him. * , The general manager,., of the union Dr Aggett worked for (Mr Jan Theron) stood in front of the altar of Saint Mary’s Cathedral in central Johannesburg during the ceremony and blamed his death on. the Government and security police. About 2000 people, mainly

blacks, packed the cathedral, and hundreds more stood in the courtyard and surrounding streets. •“ ’?t Dr Aggett . Was found hanged in his cell on February 4. the first white to die , while being held under the security laws, and his death has aroused, a flood of national and international protest. • “The results of a post-.' mortem examination havenot yet been 'released. " Dr Aggett. a physician, was the Transvaal provincial secretary of the Food , add’ Canning Workers' Union, most of whose members are •'

blacks. He was detained in November under laws which allow almost indefinite detention'without trial. Dr Aggett's simple pine coffin, draped in a red satin cloth bearing the initials of the union, was surrounded by flowers, while in the crowd clenched fists were raised and black nationalist songs, were sung. The service was conducted by the . Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg (the Rt Rev. Timothy Bavin) and the Anglican Dean of , the city (the Very Rev. Simeon Nkoane). \ . Mr Theron, a white, told

the congregation: "It is necessary to say that when* they speak of suicide we say ? he was killed, and if they should say no-one was to! blame for his death,, we put : the blame where it lies — with the Government of this country and the securnv. police. , "Those people who say we ■ must wait until an inquest or \ ■ post-mortem cannot be re-’ - lied on. Forty-five people have died on detention before .. Neil Aggett. “What' N.eil Aggett was doing was.cfeipleteiy opposite to what the Government wishes to create ’divisions

; “of race. >.language and between ■ different racial “groups. Neil .was working towards unification." Referring to a statement ; bv the Police Minister (Mr Louis le Grange) that some detained trade unionists would be charged on. one or more counts, he said Dr Aggett was meant to take part in a show trial against /.. trade unionists. “We can see today, he is ... dead because he wouldn’t “play the part." Mr Theron -/said. Thousands later followed the hearse in buses and cars through Johannesburg

. suburbs to the “ cemetery 1 while the police kept their j distance. There were no incidents. 1 A. police spokesman said no attempt had been made to ! interfere with the long 5 . column of cars and people on ' foot, even though onlookers said the flag of the banned ■ African National Congress • was being carried, and ruling National Party posters for ’ local government elections ■ were torn down. i Three pamphlet bombs exI ploded in central Johannes- ; burg on the eve of the , funeral.